Published: Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 11:54 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 11:54 p.m.

MULBERRY | After years of scrambling for buckets when storm clouds loomed, Jessie Ward, director of Mulberry Phosphate Museum, said she's ready to pack away her rain kit.

Facts

"When I found out how much water was coming through, I was concerned about the artifacts being damaged."

Rick Johnson, City Manager

"Every time it rained, we all knew where the buckets needed to go to keep the drips off the exhibits," Ward said. "I can't wait until we don't have to do that anymore."

That time is coming the first week of December, when crews will tear off the old roof and put down new shingles.

City Manager Rick Johnson said the city had set aside money for the new roof, which is expected to cost about $35,000. Given the historic nature of the artifacts in the museum, he put the project on a fast track to prevent damage.

"When I found out how much water was coming through, I was concerned about the artifacts being damaged," said Johnson, who started working for the city last month. "The money was there, so it was a matter of getting the work done."

So far, the museum has escaped any damage beyond a hole in the ceiling and some drips down the walls, Ward said.

"We've been lucky," she said. "We know what to do to protect the exhibits, and luckily, fossils are pretty durable."

Most of the displays in the city-owned museum showcase century-old bones that were excavated during mining operations, but the museum's story doesn't stop there. The wood-frame building itself has its own history.

"This was the city's train depot, built in 1939 to replace the original depot," Ward said. "It was converted into a museum about 1985."

The roof on the building is thought to be about 30 years old.

Johnson said there may be asbestos in the existing roof, which has complicated the process to replace it.

"The company we've hired is already planning to use the protective suits and other precautions, in case there is asbestos up there," he said.

Work is scheduled to begin Dec. 3, two days after the museum's annual community holiday celebration.

"The work is expected to take about a week," Ward said, "and we're not scheduling any events during that time. But we'll still be open. I'd hate to have to shut our doors even for a couple of days."

Johnson said the city also has budgeted funds to reroof neighboring city buildings, including City Hall, the library and the Polk County Sheriff's Office substation in Mulberry.

"I'm working on that now, so we can get those started," he said. "But with the artifacts in the museum, we just couldn't wait any longer to get that done."

[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte @theledger.com or 863-533- 9070. ]

<p>MULBERRY | After years of scrambling for buckets when storm clouds loomed, Jessie Ward, director of Mulberry Phosphate Museum, said she's ready to pack away her rain kit.</p><p>"Every time it rained, we all knew where the buckets needed to go to keep the drips off the exhibits," Ward said. "I can't wait until we don't have to do that anymore."</p><p>That time is coming the first week of December, when crews will tear off the old roof and put down new shingles.</p><p>City Manager Rick Johnson said the city had set aside money for the new roof, which is expected to cost about $35,000. Given the historic nature of the artifacts in the museum, he put the project on a fast track to prevent damage.</p><p>"When I found out how much water was coming through, I was concerned about the artifacts being damaged," said Johnson, who started working for the city last month. "The money was there, so it was a matter of getting the work done."</p><p>So far, the museum has escaped any damage beyond a hole in the ceiling and some drips down the walls, Ward said.</p><p>"We've been lucky," she said. "We know what to do to protect the exhibits, and luckily, fossils are pretty durable."</p><p>Most of the displays in the city-owned museum showcase century-old bones that were excavated during mining operations, but the museum's story doesn't stop there. The wood-frame building itself has its own history.</p><p>"This was the city's train depot, built in 1939 to replace the original depot," Ward said. "It was converted into a museum about 1985."</p><p>The roof on the building is thought to be about 30 years old.</p><p>Johnson said there may be asbestos in the existing roof, which has complicated the process to replace it.</p><p>"The company we've hired is already planning to use the protective suits and other precautions, in case there is asbestos up there," he said.</p><p>Work is scheduled to begin Dec. 3, two days after the museum's annual community holiday celebration.</p><p>"The work is expected to take about a week," Ward said, "and we're not scheduling any events during that time. But we'll still be open. I'd hate to have to shut our doors even for a couple of days."</p><p>Johnson said the city also has budgeted funds to reroof neighboring city buildings, including City Hall, the library and the Polk County Sheriff's Office substation in Mulberry.</p><p>"I'm working on that now, so we can get those started," he said. "But with the artifacts in the museum, we just couldn't wait any longer to get that done."</p><p> </p><p>[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte @theledger.com or 863-533- 9070. ]</p>